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The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children
User Manual Series (2006)

Author(s):  Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Rosenberg, Wilcox

Year Published:  2006

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You are in section: Table of Contents Erratum Preface Acknowledgments 1 - Purpose and Overview 2 - Fathers…Children's Well-Being 3 - Fathers…Child Maltreatment 4 - Effective Fathering 5 - Fathers and Initial Assessment and Investigation 6 - Fathers and Case Planning 7 - Services for Fathers 8 - Fatherhood Programs 9 - Federal Fatherhood Initiatives Appendix A - Glossary of Terms Appendix B - Resource Listings Appendix C - State Telephone Numbers… Appendix D - Cultural Competence Self-Assessment… Appendix E - Tips for Dads Appendix F - Healthy Marriages

Great Beginnings Start Before Birth
Working with Fathers-to-be and Their Partners

The best time to begin prevention efforts is during the prenatal period. The latest technology has created a landslide of evidence that clearly demonstrates that the intellectual and physical development of the unborn child can be greatly enhanced through prenatal stimulation and interaction with both the mother and father. Beginning home visiting services at this time has enormous advantages. It provides an opportunity for the home visitor to establish a trusting relationship with the parents before the baby arrives. The home visitor can provide information, resources, and support that will improve the parent's knowledge of child care and self care to ensure healthier outcomes for the mother, father, and baby.

Research shows that the father's support is essential to the mother and, therefore, to their child's well-being. Stress can contribute to potentially serious health problems for both mother and baby, and fathers certainly experience stress as well. A healthy, supportive relationship with the baby's father can contribute to reducing the mother's stress and offers the opportunity for fathers to bond with their unborn child. Studies also show that:

• Fathers who bond with their children before or shortly after birth are much more likely to continue contact with and support their children even if they are not in a relationship with the mother.
  
  
• Infants whose fathers are involved demonstrate a lower degree of stressfulness or anxiety and are better able to deal with frustrations.

Great Beginnings Start Before Birth is a training program and curriculum based on the Healthy Families model that works with prenatal families. It has been field-tested and a fatherhood component was added. The prenatal module is targeted to home visitors and other service providers who provide services to prenatal families. It provides instruction and many opportunities to involve fathers right from the start, to reduce stress for the mother, and to engage in prenatal bonding and stimulation activities with the unborn child.

The curriculum works to engage fathers from the beginning, addresses concerns both partners may have about father involvement or lack thereof, provides videos on engaging fathers, and disseminates handouts such as tips for fathers on how to support their pregnant partners. (For more ideas, see Appendix E, Tips for Dads.)

For more information on the program, contact:

Prevent Child Abuse America
200 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312.663.3520
Website: http://www.preventchildabuse.org

Back to Examples of Fatherhood Programs

You are in section: Table of Contents Erratum Preface Acknowledgments 1 - Purpose and Overview 2 - Fathers…Children's Well-Being 3 - Fathers…Child Maltreatment 4 - Effective Fathering 5 - Fathers and Initial Assessment and Investigation 6 - Fathers and Case Planning 7 - Services for Fathers 8 - Fatherhood Programs 9 - Federal Fatherhood Initiatives Appendix A - Glossary of Terms Appendix B - Resource Listings Appendix C - State Telephone Numbers… Appendix D - Cultural Competence Self-Assessment… Appendix E - Tips for Dads Appendix F - Healthy Marriages

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Updated on October 9, 2009